Meet Dr. Patricia S. Brawner, PhD

I’m Dr. Patricia S. Brawner, PhD, Licensed Psychologist.

I’m an experienced marriage and couples counseling therapist. For more than 25 years, I have been counseling couples of all kinds – married, committed relationships, LGBT – in my private practice in Athens, GA. Athens is an hour from Atlanta, GA and is then home of the University of Georgia. I have a PhD in Clinical Psychology, a Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy and I’m a licensed psychologist in the State of Georgia.

My background. I grew up on dairy farm in a small agrarian community in South Carolina. While it was far from idyllic, I owe a lot of my grounded-ness and my strong work ethic to that experience. I learned from the best how to be a straight shooter who cuts right to the chase. I went to college at Clemson University where I intended to exit as a veterinarian; while there, my focus changed from the well-being of animals to that of people and I finished with a B.A. in Political Science/Economics. I began my foray into psychology in 1981 when I was awarded a Masters Degree in Counseling at the University of Georgia. I took that degree and for several years worked with preteens/teens in a school system as a guidance counselor and later in a psychiatric hospital. I then returned to graduate school at the University of Georgia and completed a PhD program in Counseling Psychology. I became aware of my keen interest and aptitude for working with couples during my tenure at UGA and earned a Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy, as well. I have taken advance courses in the Gottman Method.

I am now the divorced mom of three young adult children, a boy and twin girls. As a mother and half-owner of a failed marriage, I understand the stresses and pressures that you may very well feel right now, because I’ve experienced it. I understand and know first hand how couples get so involved in ‘taking care of business’ that they forget to take care of themselves as individuals and as a couple. So one day you wake up and wonder, who is that person and why is he/she in bed with me?

My practice. I entered private practice in 1991 as a licensed psychologist in Athens, GA, and began working with individuals and couples of all ages and ethnicities. I have remained in private practice since that time at Athens Area Psychotherapy and I have treated countless couples for a wide variety of problems and concerns. I launched my Couples Intensive Weekend Retreats for Relationship Renewal in 2009 to offer a more profound therapy experience for couples in crisis or those who may have tried traditional marriage counseling, but are not getting the results that they desire.

The work I do with couples is very important to me. I derive great pleasure from getting to know the couples with whom I work, the energy couples bring to therapy and the sense of satisfaction I feel when good work is done. My experience with couples has brought me to an unwavering belief in a couples’ ability to grow and change, and to be best friends and lovers.